5 Toxic Stereotypes Of Veterans In The Workplace

Americans today have high regard for veterans. In a recent nationwide survey, civilians considered Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to be more of a "valuable asset" to this country than teachers, colleges and the Supreme Court. It's a far cry from this country's attitude toward the vets of Vietnam, who received no hero's welcome and often hid their service to avoid being on the receiving end of epithets.

But if the returning vet is no longer greeted with scorn, many are still greeted with stereotypes. The unemployment rate for veterans is significantly higher than the national average, and stereotyping by employers is one of the half dozen or so reasons why, according to Nathan Smith, the chief operating officer of Hire Heroes USA, a nonprofit that helps veterans find jobs.

And sure enough, when the Center for a New American Security surveyed representatives from dozens of companies, many said negative stereotypes were one of the challenges associated with hiring veterans. Here are five of the most common stereotypes veterans face on their return:

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In 2009 a video appeared on the Penn State website for Counseling & Psychological Services to address "Worrisome Student Behaviors." It was about a teacher trying to handle a veteran student, who had bad grammar, couldn't really understand the assignments, and always seemed "on the verge or losing his temper." The video was soon taken down.

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are more educated than the civilian population, but only 19 percent of the public believes that's true, according to a recent survey by veterans advocacy group The Mission Continues and the production company Bad Robot.

Only 8 percent of veterans 25 and older didn't have a high school degree in 2009, compared to 15 percent of the population as a whole, according to the census. After all, the military rarely accepts candidates without a high school diploma.

And the percentages of veterans and civilians past age 25 who have a bachelor's degree are very close: 26 percent and 28 percent respectively, according to 2009 census numbers.

Over a quarter of the public thinks returning Afghanistan and Iraq veterans are more likely to suffer drug addiction or alcoholism than non-veterans. But most studies have found similar alcohol and drug abuse rates among veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and non-vets. According to a paper published in February, drinking patterns are roughly the same among young adults, whether they've served in military or not, and while veterans between the ages of 61 and 70 were more likely to binge than non-veterans of the same age, veterans between 41 and 60 were less likely to.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder blight the lives of so many of the returning vets portrayed in Hollywood films, like "The Deer Hunter," "Taxi Driver," "First Blood," "The Manchurian Candidate" (the original and the remake) and "Brothers," it's little surprise that most Americans think a majority of our homecoming troops have the condition, according to The Mission Continues survey.

Various studies, however, have found PTSD rates among troops deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq to be between 9 and 20 percent -- a significant portion of our servicemen and women, but a far cry from a majority.

A "Dr. Phil" show in April, "From Heroes to Monsters," featured a few veterans with PTSD, who discussed their violent rages and the fear of what they might do to their families. One beat his wife and set her on fire. Another described repeatedly stabbing an enemy combatant in the face to vent his anger, even after he was dead.

The show didn't sit well with some veterans, including those who have PTSD, and don't like the world thinking that they're "monsters." Anger and aggressiveness, while commonly publicized symptoms of PTSD, are in fact some of the least commonly experienced. Veterans with PTSD are far more likely to be prone to avoidance, intrusive memories and depression.

When someone has spent 10 or 15 years in the military, many employers are skeptical of the kind of transferable skills they might have, according to Nathan Smith, the COO of Hire Heroes USA. He says the assumption is: "All they did was follow and take orders."

In reality, Smith says, the majority of service members were working in offices, dealing with issues such as transportation and logistics. "These are very translatable and valuable skills that have been put to the test in very extreme circumstances," he says. "And they were given vast responsibility for people and equipment," he adds, way beyond anything most private sector employees deal with.

And while the skills of combat troops might be harder to list on a resume, Smith says that their leadership and problem-solving capabilities make them ideal employees. "They're trained to deal with almost every circumstance without direction," he says. "And they're very trainable. They're used to receiving instruction, becoming experts, and instructing others in turn."

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iceviper03

It is not fair how the administration and bursars office treat the Veteran's at University Park. The administration is toxic and treats veterans in a patronizing manor. As well, as the disabilities coordinator for those who suffer from learning disabilities, they do not do their jobs. Most of us student's at University Park, love the veterans, as they have protected and served out country, as yes some do have problems, but doesn't everyone? Why are veteran's at University Park treated in a condescending way when the veterans approach the faculty in the Shields Buildings, and are provoked with the faculty's toxic manipulative behaviors. For instance, a veteran was not able by check, so he wanted to pay cash at the Shields Bldg. The woman on the 2nd level, made him sit there for a half hour, and as he walked out to make a phone call, she asked him if he was angry and smiled at him. She must have enjoyed upsetting that Veteran. It was later found out the veteran told me, that the ladies on the highest floor in the shield building, was able to take his cash, and that they take cash all the time for admissions, but both women on the 2nd floor decided to play mind games with my friend who is a veteran. Another case was in October 2014, when another friend who is a veteran as well, had a Tramatic Brain Injury , and went to speak to a man at the Disabilities Center on Campus. This gentleman seemed helpful and gave the veteran a list of copies for his courses, but when the veteran returned to see that he was covered by all professors with his disability, he found that some of the professors returned the disability forms without their signatures on it. The disability coordinator did not follow up with each professor of why, but rather pointed the finger at the Veteran as if he did not care. Last but not least, January 2015, another veteran friend of mine, went to the Shields building because he had not been paid by the VA yet. His meal plan was on hold and I offered to cover him until he was paid. The Bursar's office he said, were very snooty and unresponsive, as he is allowed to have housing, take courses, but not allowed to use his meal plan, due to have a prior Fall existing balance. They became cold to him as I watched from the door way, and a higher personnel came to speak with him. She said there is nothing she could do, and somehow his balance went from $3,000 to $6000, as she was trying to bully him. He walked out and stated he would be contacting the President of the University, and she stated that it will just come back to them, but he smiled and waved goodbye. It is no surprise to anyone who is a veteran or no veteran that the Shield's building is toxic to not only PSU veteran students, but also those of us, who have never served. The shields building is toxic, and display narcissistic and sociopath behaviors. Is it a jealousy thing, because my friends are using their military benefits?

We disagree with the statement on the section: "Ticking Time Bombs". It claims that anger and aggressiveness are rare, that "avoidance, intrusive memories and depression" are the most common symptoms. While the three symptoms (a, i/m, and d) are often present, according to VA mental health professionals anxiety is the defining symptom of PTSD, which is a precursor of anger and aggressiveness.

They should reinstate the draft for both men and women. With an all-voluntary military you just don't get a representative cross-section of the population. Instead you get a disproportionately larger percentage of social and economically challenged misfits as recruits.

Actually, those who are accepted as volunteers for the military are - on average - better educated and more psychologically fit than the general population. Your assumption (and calling them) as "misfits" is elitist and insulting and - it's MY assumption - that you were rejected by the military because you didn't pass either the educational or the mental health test. Maybe both. Your point about reinstating the draft - getting a cross section of the population - is well taken, at least. Perhaps then (as long as there are no deferments), the "children of privilege" will have to do THEIR (active) duty and serve their country, too. Maybe then the Romney "Stepford" sons will have to do more to serve the country than just try to get their father elected!

Nice article, Claire. Tell who ever picked the cartoons for the top of the piece that two of the figures are carrying AK's, Russian weapons, and the blue and white horizontal striped tee shirts are typical of Russian Naval Infantry,

First as a Vietnam Vet 1966-67 we were treated as baby killers and druggies when we got home. While attending community college on Long Island we even had our Vet,s table because most of the students didnt want anything to do with us. The bottom line is this. We got approximately 225 a month to go to school. If it wasnt for the Vietnam Vet a lot of our proud men and women would not have gotten the much better benefits that we never came close to receiving for education. I am still proud to have served, but still annoyed with big business who still has this notion that we are not worth hiring because our skill set is not transferable. The economy doesnt make it any better. Our Vets deserves the best.

God bless you Rtgarton & welcome home. You're right ! You all deserve much better than what you got when you came home & all Vets deserve the best. Anybody says different can just go suck chit & bark at the moon.

When I served 1968-1972, for nearly three of my four years, I had a biochemistry background and I was a technican in a navy biochemistry lab. After my discharge, I allegedly had "veteran preference" for civil service employment. When I applied at places like NIH, I was informed that my laboratory experience was "military, therefore not relevant." That fact that I was doing the same analytical laboratory tests they were doing meant nothing. It was as though there were separate biochemistries for military and civilians. Regardless of what the alleged law said, there were no authorities I could turn to, and veterans had no right to sue the government. I cannot forgive and I will not forget.

DanJay, please don't blame the government. It was not THEY who rejected you. It was the NIH and any other civilian company who refused to hire you. You did your duty honorably and it is shameful that civilians and their corporations (who made fortunes off government contracts) treated you so poorly! Welcome home, sailor! Thank you for your service!!!